ONE NIGHT STAND WITH MY STEP DADDY

CHAPTER 5 The Dinner(Isabelle Pov)

I was slow in preparing dinner.

It was a gift to myself. I was so exhausted these last three days that I needed to get a little life in me again before facing a stranger and pretending that all is well.

I was adjusting my burgundy dress in front of the mirror. It was a great fitting one. My hair was down in loose curls and the makeup was minimal with eye liner and lipstick.

"You are Isabelle Crowe," I told the mirror. "Just twenty-three and with so much life to live. Tonight will be the hardest, after that, but you just have to manage." I spoke to myself in the mirror.

From downstairs, I could hear my brothers. Jack was the loudest one, his laughter coming from downstairs. Binnie was less loud already munching bread.

I prepared to go downstairs.

Mom was flying around the kitchen and dining room. Like a woman having twins, she had the good charade already and lit the candles.

She looked happy, actually happy. The last time I saw it was a long time ago ever since daddy died. I was happy for her anyways, but the way I saw her looking like she was trying to meet one important billionaire, it was such a strange feeling, a gloomy one.

I went downstairs and took a seat at the dining table and my mom gave me a slight nod.

"Awwwnn… you look lovely." She said smiling.

"Thank you."

"Make sure you're nice to him tonight, Isabelle, " she warned.

"I'll do my best mom." I replied. She glanced at me for a second, noticed my stress, but then went to the kitchen.

Jack glanced away from his phone and showed a puzzled look.

"Isabelle are you sure you are okay? You look like you might be sick."

"I'm okay, Jack." He gave a half-hearted shrug and got absorbed in his phone again.

Binnie gave me the bread basket. I grabbed a slice but still couldn't eat it.

After a while, my mom finally served the last dish and made herself comfortable. "Oh well, Bon appetit, " she said. As we all got our cutleries ready to dig into the food.

Then the doorbell rang.

Mom was on her feet already. She fixed her dress and even ran a finger through her hair.

That made her look a little bit younger once she was walking to the door.

Then, I heard her speaking softly and warmly , to the stranger at the door.

We all got engrossed and in expectation to see our soon to be Stepdaddy.

She chuckled from outside and the man laughed together with her as we heard the door closed and our mother led him to the dining table where we are.

I felt my heart pounding. I never wish to have a stepfather now.

‘Isabelle, chill, You're making it all up. I thought. “It's only dinner.”

Their steps were getting closer; mother said in a radiant voice,

"Hello, everyone… So I want to introduce you to someone who means a lot to me."

The man standing in the doorway was tall and had a build like a boxer. He was dressed in a tidy charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off the tattoos on his forearms.

I turned.

Behold, It was Dorian.

I felt my heart jumping off my mouth, my palms got wet, my feet stood frozen, infact, I couldn't talk.

He was clean and well-dressed, just the image of a man who is trying to do his very best to be accepted by his new family.

‘Jezzz! What the f**k?’

His eyes briefly went past Jack and Binnie and then directly at me.

For a moment, he couldn't grab his face.

He looked steadily at me and his expression changed when it dawned on him. His eyes widened. He was totally shocked too with regrets filling his eyes already.

He composed himself immediately when my mom touched his arm. "Here is Jack, my eldest, and Binne. And this is my daughter, Isabelle."

"Isabelle, " he pronounced slowly as his gaze still locked on me. He didn't falter nor didn't reveal anything.

He pretended as if he hadn't just whispered my name in the dark a few nights ago.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, " he said, looking me straight in the eyes and stretching his hand for a handshake.

I wanted to say something but I don't really know what actually came out of me. My mom was already getting a chair for him and going back to the kitchen.

Dorian took a seat right opposite me. Jack didn't waste time and started conversing and asking questions about the house and the neighborhood.

Dorian responded to him with the same composed, leisurely voice that I remembered from the bar in Chicago.

He was slick and fuckingly flawless as usual.

I looked down at my plate. Is this real?

I barely managed the thought.

No, this is not happening.

I reached for my water but found my hand trembling so much that I had no option but to put the glass back on the table.

Then I did a fatal thing and looked up.

Dorian was with my mother but his gaze met mine immediately I looked at him.

The truth was written in that single glance. He was absolutely sure of my identity. Actually, he was aware from the moment he came in.

"Isabelle, you are not eating, " my mother interrupted my thoughts.

At that instant, the whole family turned to me.

"I'm okay," I said, clearing my throat with a strained voice.

"Uhmm, only a headache mom, sorry."

I abruptly got up and my chair heavily scraped the floor. "Pardon me, I need to use the restroom. It won't take long".

I left immediately, went down the hall, entered the restroom, and locked myself in.

I lay my forehead on the basin and looked at my reflection.

A voice rang in my head. ‘Isabelle, you are doomed. The man your mother is marrying.’ I switched the tap to cold and kept my hands under the water, attempting to suppress my rising fear.

‘Is your stepfather.’

I felt like vomiting in the sink. I was holding the sink with all my strength, took a few deep breaths, and said, "Dios”

Isabelle what have you done?

While I was lost in thoughts, suddenly the door creaked open behind me, and I turned.